Maude, the orphaned youngster, disguised as a boy due to her deceased father’s owed debt to the gambler. She working as a livery hand and befriends the feral boy.
What about a barber (Clayton Hall)? He’s the hub of all news coming and going and he who controls the “media” has great power. And those with great power need to be protected by someone.
Also, the barber might be the local surgeon with an immaculate collection of sharp and pointy tools that he can use with precision and connections to a herbalist so he can dispense medicine. He likes the status of the town and does not like the influx of easterners.
Has anyone ever done an "honest snake oil salesman"? One who gave up a successful practice and put his life's savings into a cart, horse, and medicine. One who had seen it work to quell the symptoms of a particular condition and believed he would one day make a large profit, once everyone realizes how valuable his medicine is.
His twist would be the fact that the people are too savvy to "fall for that slick city-talk."
I was just going back over the premise which I believe is that the town is shifted 13,000 years into the past. So the end of the last "ice age"? A nasty surprise for those without an overcoat. Maybe just shift back to the era of Conan the Barbarian without giving a number. Consider adding in a sear with a fore shadowing prediction and a few prehistoric exotic animals. BTW when the town shifts does it "land" on top of anything? Could be some interesting situations if it did. A railroad going through town with a locomotive belching smoke and whistling. Cool idea.
One last one: the Gypsy fortune teller who travels/partners with the snake oil salesman. Her predictions of doom and gloom are then offset by the wares of the snake oil salesman.
Town drunk, Fire & Brimstone preacher (cold be Lutheran/Baptist), someone who occasionally dispenses wisdom (can be rolled into another type), virginal daughter/sister, schoolmarm, snake oil salesman, Miss Kitty & her girls, crusty old prospector & his mule who seem to wander about but never actually looking for gold but witnessing key events, honest handsome young man (possible also virginal), Bounty hunter (possibly brought in the outlaw & may be candidate for sheriff), sidekick, terminally ill ne'er-do-well that sacrifices himself honorably ...
When I saw that poster I thought that there were many men and not so many women. Though then I found some that I missed. But my mind still defaults to "man" when it comes to any of the characters with unspecified gender. Maybe that's a bit convenient and boring on my part?
Absolutely, and I'm working on that. I think it is because it's a male-skewed genre, but it doesn't has to be. Also the role of women in the west seems like it was way more complicated than the "whores above the saloon" portrayal. Working on a future research post about this.
A railroad company work crew... Extending the western line...., and all the logistics, personnel and supply that entails
Love the shaman. He's the town drunk, one of a few probably, but tells everyone he can commune with ancient spirits. Maybe out there he can.
Yeah, of all the places an explanation can come from of what/why just happened. Drunk Shaman is the likely candidate.
Undertaker, grave diggers, black smiths.
Maude, the orphaned youngster, disguised as a boy due to her deceased father’s owed debt to the gambler. She working as a livery hand and befriends the feral boy.
What about a barber (Clayton Hall)? He’s the hub of all news coming and going and he who controls the “media” has great power. And those with great power need to be protected by someone.
Also, the barber might be the local surgeon with an immaculate collection of sharp and pointy tools that he can use with precision and connections to a herbalist so he can dispense medicine. He likes the status of the town and does not like the influx of easterners.
I love that too. Maybe Barber and Doctor. Doctor is all high and mighty (he has the credential) but the Barber is the one who knows what he's doing?
.
Has anyone ever done an "honest snake oil salesman"? One who gave up a successful practice and put his life's savings into a cart, horse, and medicine. One who had seen it work to quell the symptoms of a particular condition and believed he would one day make a large profit, once everyone realizes how valuable his medicine is.
His twist would be the fact that the people are too savvy to "fall for that slick city-talk."
I was just going back over the premise which I believe is that the town is shifted 13,000 years into the past. So the end of the last "ice age"? A nasty surprise for those without an overcoat. Maybe just shift back to the era of Conan the Barbarian without giving a number. Consider adding in a sear with a fore shadowing prediction and a few prehistoric exotic animals. BTW when the town shifts does it "land" on top of anything? Could be some interesting situations if it did. A railroad going through town with a locomotive belching smoke and whistling. Cool idea.
Yes, it's basically sketched in as the Hyborean age. Atlantis hasn't sunk. All that jazz.
And as for exotic animals. I give you the short-faced bear. Could run 60 MPH. 3.5x the size of a grizzly. Sweet dreams -- https://www.wideopenspaces.com/7-facts-extinct-giant-bear/
20 or so extravagant, brash, cutthroat characters all in town for the annual poker tournament. First prize is a golden (painted) revolver.
I first read that as golden retriever. Which is a whole other story I now want to write.
golden (painted) retriever
Outspoken repressed temperance movement social reformer ladies group.
A sentient horse. Who can suddenly communicate with everyone. Stable boy was there when it clicked, but is now missing.
One last one: the Gypsy fortune teller who travels/partners with the snake oil salesman. Her predictions of doom and gloom are then offset by the wares of the snake oil salesman.
And what if just this one time the Gypsy's predictions come true. And they blame her even though it's not her fault!
Town drunk, Fire & Brimstone preacher (cold be Lutheran/Baptist), someone who occasionally dispenses wisdom (can be rolled into another type), virginal daughter/sister, schoolmarm, snake oil salesman, Miss Kitty & her girls, crusty old prospector & his mule who seem to wander about but never actually looking for gold but witnessing key events, honest handsome young man (possible also virginal), Bounty hunter (possibly brought in the outlaw & may be candidate for sheriff), sidekick, terminally ill ne'er-do-well that sacrifices himself honorably ...
SNAKE OIL SALESMAN! You know I thought about that, but didn't write it down yet. Schoolmarm is in there.
I like the Town Drunk occasionally and accidentally dispensing wisdom, like a fool.
When I saw that poster I thought that there were many men and not so many women. Though then I found some that I missed. But my mind still defaults to "man" when it comes to any of the characters with unspecified gender. Maybe that's a bit convenient and boring on my part?
Absolutely, and I'm working on that. I think it is because it's a male-skewed genre, but it doesn't has to be. Also the role of women in the west seems like it was way more complicated than the "whores above the saloon" portrayal. Working on a future research post about this.
Oh yeah, and Calamity Jane -- amazing character.